SJI Wins 4 Design Excellence Awards!
On Tuesday, September 13, the American Society of Interior Designersโ Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) celebrated their annual Celebration of Design and Design Excellence Awards at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios. Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors (SJI) was announced as the winner in 4 categories.
Left to right: Justine Trace, Violeta Arce, Sarah Schwuchow (Owner/Principal), Bianka Daehler, Tiana gaa
On Tuesday, September 13, the American Society of Interior Designersโ Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) celebrated their Annual Celebration of Design and Design Excellence Awards at The Ivy Room at Tree Studios.
Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors (SJI) was announced as the winner in 4 categories:
Bath
Wild Card Residential Space
Philanthropic/ Charity - check out our blog post on this special project for more details
Custom Detail (Millwork)
The ASID Illinois Design Excellence Awards spotlight the best interior design projects in Illinois with submissions in over 50 categories including residential, contract and product design. Over 150 designers, industry partners, and enthusiasts came together to celebrate the winners.
A panel of distinguished interior design professionals from 8 other ASID Chapters across the country reviewed the entries and selected category winners based on lighting, scale and proportion, color and composition, design creativity, function, and solutions appropriate to the design criteria. All entrants also included an IMPACT statement โan explanation of how the project affected the users' lives or livelihoods.
Check Out More Event Photos and SJIโs winning projects:
About ASID Illinois
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is a community of people - designers, industry representatives, educators, and students - committed to interior design. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people's lives. Its more than 30,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
The American Society of Interior Designers - Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) is a professional association representing the interests of more than 1,000 Illinois interior designers, students, and design industry partner members. Its vision is to be the voice of design in Illinois, to provide information through quality, timely communications, to educate its members and clients and to grow and support market expansion.
ASID Illinois is led by a volunteer board that includes the Chapter's president, president-elect, five directors and one student representatives.
Please visit www.il.asid.org for more information.
The Art of Dining: A Tablescape Inspired by the Art of Christina Haglid
Swaying with the oceanโs breath, illuminated orbs dance over translucent waves. Nighttime flowers blossom under moonlight. Peace washes over as glimmering stars brighten the endless midnight sky. Inspired by Christina Haglidโs ethereal artwork, Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors sets the space between light and dark.
Our team had the honor of participating in ASID Illinois inaugural Art of Dining event this year!
12 talented interior designers created beautiful tablescapes that were inspired by the art of: Renรฉ Romero Schuler, Christina Haglid, Steve Turner, Mark Bowers & Jeff Conroy. The event was hosted at Gallery Victor Armendariz and Zola Lieberman Gallery in River North.
Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors was inspired by Christina Haglidโs ethereal artwork.
The fragility of the environment has always played an important role in Christina Haglid's work. As a child growing up on the East Coast, the ever changing seaside landscapes intrigued her. This fragile balance between nature and her subject matter is as delicate as a paper lantern floating on the ocean.
The Ocean, Christina Haglid 2019 - 2020, acrylic on panel, 8h x 10w inches
Christina Haglidโs history with writing poetry has shaped the narrative process in her artwork. She views objects in the painting like words placed on a page. Haglid creates her paintings with watercolor and gouache on paper or acrylic on panel. She composes flowers, manipulated objects, and architecture together in compositions to symbolize the subtle conversations and interactions between them. Her imagery is placed in imaginary landscapes that are inspired by actual places seen throughout her travels.
Each tablescape highlighted a color from Sherwin Williams, one of the event sponsors. Our vignette incorporated the beautiful color: Smokey Blue
Smoky Blue by Sherwin Williams
Petunia in Space, Christina Haglid, 2018, watercolor and gouache on paper, 5.25h x 5w inches
“At the heart of my work is the recurring depiction of perseverance, strength of will, and a subtle optimism. Symbolically through the objects, precarious situations depict a moment of possible difficulty, often involving the influence of nature.”
Paper Boat, Christina Haglid, 2019 - 2020, acrylic on panel, 8h x 10w inches
Monolith No. 4, Sarah Haglid, 2020, watercolor and gouache on paper, 8h x 9w inches
Daybreak, Christina Haglid, 2015-2018, watercolor and gouache on paper, 7.88h x 14.50w inches
Swaying with the oceanโs breath, illuminated orbs dance over translucent waves. Nighttime flowers blossom under moonlight. Peace washes over as glimmering stars brighten the endless midnight sky. Inspired by Christina Haglidโs ethereal artwork, Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors sets the space between light and dark.
What inspired us:
mysterious and spiritual quality
movement vs. calm nature of water
layers of ocean moving at night
juxtaposition of light and dark
floating quality of the orbs, glowing flowers
glowing effect of organic objects
story of the object and its environment
We used color and a 3D fabric texture to evoke the feeling of the ocean at night. Generous florals adorn a feminine bust with a mysterious gaze. Droplets of gold accents float over the blue tablecloth, emulating the ocean. Glowing orbs dance over waves of fabric on each end of the table setting.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support us and a special thank you to all that made this tablescape possible. We couldnโt have done this without you!
The team, Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors
Need help designing the perfect table setting? Schedule a design consultation with our team today!
How to Design Your Living Room
Expert advice on how to design your living room.
1. First things firstโฆpaint last! It may seem counterintuitive, but with so many nuanced options, you'll want to get it just right. We used Benjamin Mooreโs luscious โGalapagos Greenโ in an ultra flat finish for the ceiling in our latest living room makeover. Be patient, and be bold!
Botanical Garden Living Room, Photo Credit Dustin Halleck
Best Specialty Art and Framing Project: ASID IL Design Excellence 2021, Photo Credit Dustin Halleck
2. Find your focal point. Every room has a natural center point, whether it's the fireplace, TV, or picture window with an expansive view. Plan furniture around this center line. Sometimes a room can have two focal points, like a TV wall and a fireplace. This is trickier, but with the right sectional, anything is possible. Art is one of my favorite focal points. A good frame makes the piece. Artists Frame Service is our favorite local framer. Art helps set the mood in the space, balances the weight of the room, adds color + texture, and creates a conversation starter.
Pro Tip: I love vacation art. These are special pieces picked up on your travels that bring you back to that time and place. Also, buy art done by family members, local artistโs pieces that speak to you, or try framing your own artwork!
Botanical Garden Living Room, Photo Credit Dustin Halleck
๏ปฟ3. Select functional furniture. Opt for tight over loose cushions. You'll save yourself the trouble of constantly cleaning between the seats. Multifunctional furniture is great! Pull up ottomans on casters and add instant seating. Bonus if they cant be tucked away under a coffee table or console. Make sure thereโs ample surfaces to live and function. Consider a console behind your sofa, end tables for a wine glass, or a coffee table 18-20" from the sofa edge.
4. Think about function & address traffic flow. Do you host super bowl parties and need seating for 8-10? Maybe the kids need it to be cozy, while you need it to be easy to clean. Perhaps it's just you, your partner, and your dog relaxing after a long day of work. Knowing how you will use the space will determine the direction of the design.
To find a flow, think about how you and your guests are entering and exiting this room. Are two points of entry needed? Does that point of entry cross the path of the TV? Can that be avoided?
Our Team: Violeta, Bianka, and Sarah (from Left to right)
5. Layer your lighting. Think ceiling lights, table lamps, floor lamps, and windows. Balance the light in the space. Make sure your lighting is on dimmers to adjust it has a day turns to night.
6. Bring in color. Start with the rug. Use the colors of the rug to influence the palette for the rest of the room. Your rug should be large enough that the front two feet of the sofa sit on it comfortably.
โCoverโ by Knots Rugs, Sold Exclusively at Integral THread
7. Choose fabrics for your lifestyle. Busy living calls for stain treated or bleach cleanable fabrics depending on your needs (and how rowdy your guests get!) Cozy up with the final layer of pillows. Add in pattern, texture, and trim here. Have fun with it! These can be changed out seasonally or as you want to update your decor!
First Place winner of The Gallery Walk 2021, PHoto Credit Michael Kaskel.
Need help designing the perfect living room? Schedule a design consultation with our team today!
Bianka Daehler: ASID Illinois At- Large Director
We are excited to announce that our Senior Interior Designer, Bianka Daehler has been nominated and voted in as the At-Large Director for the ASID Illinois Chapter.
We are excited to announce that our Senior Interior Designer, Bianka Daehler has been nominated and voted in as the At-Large Director for the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapter.
Her two year term will begin on October 1st, 2022. Bianka began her journey as an ASID member while in school at the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. As she progressed in her career, Bianka realized that she wanted to pursue a path toward NCIDQ certification and rejoined ASID, which provided resources and connections to others on the same journey.
Interior Design rights and legislation sparked Biankaโs interest in pursuing a path of leadership. Her goals are to enhance the design community by increasing the number of Registered Interior Designers, provide resources for those pursuing NCIDQ certification, and help advance the legislative rights of interior designers. She plans to connect and collaborate with other organizations to unify the expansive Chicago design community.
Bianka currently serves as the Chicago Peer Group Leader, where she hosts monthly meet-ups for ASID designers and industry partners.
This is her last year studying for the NCIDQ exam. Upon passing the Prac exam this spring, Bianka will become NCIDQ Certified and Register with the State of Illinois.
ASID has so much to offer!
Interested in learning more about ASID? ASID members can get involved with committees and volunteer groups, attend peer group meetings, educational lectures and advocacy events, seek mentorship or become mentors, and learn leadership and professional development skills. We, as a design team, would not be where we are today without the support of the American Society of Interior Designers. We look forward to being able to give back in every way we can so we may continue to support the design community.
If youโre interested in becoming more involved in ASID, please reach out! Bianka@SarahJacquelynInteriors.com
Sarah Schwuchow is now a WELL Accredited Professional
Our Principal Interior Designer, Sarah Schwuchow, earned her WELL AP Certification. This certification shows Sarahโs commitment to design and create healthier spaces. Read on to find out more about this certification and how this credential impacts lives for the better!
Last month, our Principal Interior Designer, Sarah Schwuchow, earned her WELL AP credential. This shows SJIโs commitment to design and create healthier spaces. Read on to find out more about this certification and how this credential impacts lives for the better!
โThose who successfully pass the WELL AP exam and receive the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) credential are recognized for their expertise in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and for demonstrating a commitment to advancing human health and wellness in buildings and communities around the world.โ
-www.resources.wellcertified.com/faqs/what-is-a-well-ap/
Sarah has always been interested to understand how the environment can impact health and wellbeing. WELL is a commitment to advancing human health in buildings and communities, using evidence-based medical research by scientists, medical professionals, wellness teachers and architects.
As someone who has a family experience with cancers, auto immune diseases, and mental health disorders, itโs very important to Sarah to learn how SJI can make an impact in what we do as designers and how the spaces we design can impact our clientsโ physical and mental wellbeing.
We are committed to doing our research and educating the public on the ways that environmental and biological factors play a role in our health and wellness.
โBecoming a WELL AP gives you the opportunity to become an ambassador for public health and design spaces that empower people to eat, sleep, work out, perform and feel their best.โ -www.asid.org/learn/well
The WELL Building Standard focuses on 7 concepts for healthier buildings & spaces:
AIR
We spend 90% of our time indoors, therefore indoor air quality is vitally important. We need to consider off-gassing from building materials in our designs, such as VOCโs from paints.
Indoor air quality issues can diminish work productivity and lead to sick building syndrome (no disease or cause is identified but health effects are linked to time spent in the building). Pollution source avoidance, proper ventilation and air filtration are some of the most effective means of achieving higher indoor air quality.
WATER
Clean drinking water is vital for optimal health. 2/3 of our bodies are composed of water; it helps our bodies transport nutrients and waste, regulates our body temperature and serves as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord. Women should consume 2.7L and men should should consume 3.7L of water daily according to the Institute of Medicine.
Water contamination is major health issue. Almost 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water worldwide and 2 million people die annually from access to safe drinking water. The Clean Water Act of 1974 in the US by the EPA provides standards for levels of contaminants allowed in our water such as lead, arsenic, mercury, glyphosate, atrazine and microbes. These limits are set based on the likelihood of causes health effects like cancer.
WELL seeks to help limit the presence of inorganic containments - like Lead and mercury in our drinking water which have been linked to developmental delays, learning disabilities, high blood pressure and kidney problems. Reverse Osmosis and Kinetic Degradation Fluxion filters can remove these dissolved metals. WELL also seeks to limit the presence of organic contaminates like Benzene and PCBโs which are linked to cancer, immune deficiencies and nervous system difficulties. Carbon filters are effective at removing these and other harmful chemical substances.
NOURISHMENT
Nutrition plays a major role in health maintenance, weight management, and chronic disease prevention. 2.7 Million people die annually worldwide due to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. Itโs a top 10 risk factor of global mortality. Low fruit and vegetable consumption can lead to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, as well as breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
WELL incorporates strategies that can help people eat better, by encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, discouraging artificial ingredients, storing foods properly, labeling foods for allergies and recognizing special diets, providing foods that are Federally Certified Organic, and Certified Human. Spaces are designed to provide employees with break areas and salad bars to encourage healthy eating and taking breaks from the work day.
LIGHT
Light is vitally important in the design of any space, not just visually but also physically. As humans, our bodies run on a 24 hour cycle called a circadian rhythm. Our bodies respond to external cues (zeitgebers) that align with physiological function in the solar cycle. Light is one of the most important zeitgebers, as it keeps our bodiesโ internal clock synchronized. Exposure to light and different types of light affects our sleep and wake cycles. Between 50-70 Million US Adults have chronic sleep or wakefulness disorders. These disorders put us at a higher risk for diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, hypertension, and stroke.
All light, even indoor light, affects our bodies. Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, improper lighting can impact our phase cycles and cause issues for our sleep. We need exposure both to light and darkness to maintain healthy cycles. Glare is a major problem addressed by WELL, designing workstations that minimize glare from nearby windows. Well also address individuals right to light, where 75% of the occupied space must be located within 25 feet of a viewing window.
FITNESS
Fitness is defined as the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits and respond to emergencies. 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity 5 days a week is encouraged by the American College of Sports Medicine to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Lack of physical activity can increase the odds of having a stroke by 20-30% and shave off 3-5 years of life. Physical inactivity is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide accounting for 3-5 million deaths per year.
WELL seeks to provide opportunities for building occupants by providing spaces and access to fitness equipment, classes, and adjustable furnishings to encourage an active lifestyle. Designing spaces with a common staircases between 2-4 floors encourages people to take the stairs rather than an elevator. Treadmill desks, bicycle desks, and portable stepper machines under the desk are great solutions that WELL encourage. 60% of workstations must be an adjustable height standing desk. Standing burns 50 more calories per hour than sitting.
COMFORT
The comfort section of WELL covers physical, mental, thermal, acoustic, and olfactory comfort. Acoustic problems are the number one complaint among occupants. WELL uses mitigation strategies such as absorbing and reducing materials, masking systems, and construction techniques that can help create an environment that enables occupants to focus better.
Ergonomics of the space play a major role in our health and wellness. Musculoskeletal Disorders, such as back pain, affects 31 million Americans. WELL seeks to design spaces that can help these issues such as adjustable computer screens, desk height flexibility, and seat adjustability to create ergonomically-friendly workspaces.
MIND
Mental and Physical health are related. Exercise of the physical body releases serotonin which elevates mood and regulates sleep cycles. Anxiety triggers a physiological response on the body similar to the way a physical injury can. Stress is damning physiologically and psychologically. Global mental health disorders account for 8 million deaths each year. Life expectancy of those living with mental illness is 10 years shorter compared to those without mental illness. In the US, 21% of people are living with a mood disorder, such as depression. This affects 16 Million adults in the US alone.
Depression is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and immunosuppression. Chronic Stress and anxiety are responsible for the stress hormones that can result in metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin conditions.
WELL seeks to provide strategies to help individuals mitigate stress and promote relaxation in addition to increasing awareness and education of mental health. This is done by creating access to a health and wellness library for building occupants, incorporating nature and light within spaces, creating policies on work-related travel and late night hours, offering workplace family support, and stress and addiction treatment.
โWeโre not designing places to live. Weโre designing how we live. Leading research demonstrates that the way our buildings are designed, constructed and maintained has a profound impact on how we live. When we design our buildings, we define how we sleep, what we eat and how we feel throughout the day. ASID is dedicated to leading the conversation on integrating health and wellness in the built environment.โ -https://www.asid.org/learn/well
RNDD Gallery Walk Vignette at Eggersmann
We had such an exciting night this past Friday at the River North Design Districtโs 6th Annual Fall Gallery Walk! Our vignette was featured at the eggersmann showroom and showcased the intriguing and emotional work of Bobbi Meier.
We had such an exciting night this past Friday at the River North Design Districtโs 6th Annual Fall Gallery Walk! Our vignette was featured at the eggersmann showroom and showcased the intriguing and emotional work of Bobbi Meier.
The walk featured 20 showrooms exhibiting designer vignettes from Chicagoโs top designers, showcasing living settings highlighting artwork created by some of the brightest stars in the art world today.
We are also pleased to announce that our vignette was awarded Best Vignette Design!
Here are some highlights from our opening night on Friday!
Our Concept Statement
Our vignette, featuring Bobbi Meierโs series Family Portraits, captures the emotional chaos of a family game night. This drawing room is a space to feel; intense colors, textures, and patterns meld together seamlessly to create an atmosphere of excitement and energy that is on the verge of spilling over into madness.
Family Portraits is a series of objects spilling from frames and cast in porcelain. Bobbi Meier writes that โthe frame becomes a device to bring tidiness to a messy situation. It simultaneously attempts to entrap and protect an object, which cannot be contained: underlying emotional chaos.โ This vignette is a playful take on Meierโs work, inviting you to indulge in an evening of lively gameplay; let loose, have a cocktail, and spill the emotions that emerge during a competitive family game night.
Meet the artist, Bobbi Meier of salonlb.
โProducing work that is sensuous, slightly frightening, and grotesquely humorous has become a means to engage discomfort and anger with situations that cannot be changed.โ
Bobbi Meier is a Chicago-based visual artist. She works in various mediums such as sculpture, collage, drawing, photography, and most recently, performance. Her work is realized through provocative use of materials such as pantyhose, spandex, porcelain, and found home furnishings, embedding themes of emotional history, struggle, and loss in its making. (salonlb.com)
Surrender Your Senses
This was truly an evening of the senses!
Sight
Beautiful eye-catching colors, designs, and intriguing art pieces were everywhere.
Taste
A signature cocktail, the Scarlet Gimlet, savory h'orderves, and decadent desserts were indulged in throughout the evening.
Touch
The eggersmann team prepared an interactive coral sponge artwork for guests to add their own colors, texture, and interpretation. The pieces were then raffled off in a social media hashtag challenge!
Smell
While guests explored the exhibit, we invited them to smell three very different scents of Zest, Smoked Woods, & Meadow.
Sound
A carefully designed playlist surrounded the studio space with a mix of upbeat tempos and contemporary hits.
Missed us last Friday? Thereโs still time to see our vignette!
The Fall Gallery Walk vignettes will be up in each showroom through October 11.
Make sure you stop by eggersmann at 300 W Hubbard St 4th floor and take a look!
We could not have had such a successful opening night without the help of many hard working individuals! We owe a huge โthank youโ to all our contributors!
Our Design Process: Vignette at Artists Frame Service
Ready to start your next project? Schedule a Design Discovery Call with us today!
The Custom Framing Process
Go behind the scenes with SJI to see how we design custom frames for our clients.
Ready to start your framing project with us? Schedule a design consultation today!
ASID Illinois President-Elect
I am excited to announce that I have been voted in as the President- Elect for the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapter. My one year term as President-Elect will begin on October 1st, 2021 and I will serve as President for one year starting on October 1st, 2022.
I am excited to announce that I have been voted in as the President-Elect for the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapter.
My one year term as President-Elect will begin on October 1st, 2021 and I will serve as President for one year starting on October 1st, 2022.
My goal as President-Elect is to bring a new and fresh perspective to the Chapter and the Illinois design community. ASID has been such an influential part of my career and I feel that it is my responsibility to give back and help others. I want to connect with our community to demonstrate the value of ASID membership and its impact on personal and professional development.
I hope to inspire our students, engage our emerging professionals, provide value to our professional members, and recognize our industry partners. I will strive for an inclusive community, highlight our members' diverse backgrounds, and motivate others to pursue paths of leadership.
We will create a community that shares, uplifts, and supports one another, ultimately increasing the awareness of our profession. As the Board of Directors, we will collaborate and communicate effectively to support the President's goals and endeavors. We will commit to improving our Chapter and ensure value for all of our members.
Serving as an ASID Illinois President has always been one of my goals.
Becoming an ASID Illinois Chapter President is a goal that I have had since I was a student member. I remember thinking to myself, what an honor it would be to one day serve on the ASID Illinois Board of Directors. Fast forward ten years later, Iโve achieved that goal as Iโve been serving as the Communications Director for the last year and I excited to start my term in October as President-Elect.
Joining as ASID was one of the most influential parts of my college experience.
I joined as a student member in 2010 after enrolling at the Illinois Institute of Art- Chicago. I was honored to serve as the Student Chapter President for FY11-FY12. With 6 Chapter officers and 22 additional members, our year was an incredible success, winning two ASID National Awards.
This leadership position was critical in forming my character, skill set, goals, and ultimate career success. I owe so much gratitude to ASID and I have strived over the last 10 years to give back and volunteer my time to help design students and my peers.
It is a personal mission of mine to help designers pass the NCIDQ exam and become Registered Interior Designers.
In 2019, I created the NCIDQ Committee for ASID Illinois. The purpose of the committee is to provide supplementary educational support and mentorship for NCIDQ candidates. As the Committee Chair, I lead weekly study sessions for the Spring 2019 testing season for 5 NCIDQ exam candidates. The participants of this study group were able to ask questions, learn new study techniques and benefit from the synergy of working with other design professionals.
After 8 weeks of intense test preparation, I am so proud to say we had a 100% pass rate for the exams each of these candidates took. This ASID Illinois NCIDQ study group has evolved into a partnership with IIDA and is now part of ASID Illinoisโ regular offerings each testing season.
ASID has so much to offer!
ASID members can get involved with committees and volunteer groups, attend peer group meetings, educational lectures, and advocacy events, seek mentorship or become mentors, and learn leadership and professional development skills. I would not be where I am today without the support of the American Society of Interior Designers. I look forward to being able to give back every way I can, so that I can continue to support this community.
If you are a designer, student, or industry partner interested in becoming more involved in ASID, please reach out! I would love to have you attend a peer group with me or participate in a committee next year! Sarah@SarahJacquelynInteriors.com
Interior Design and COVID-19
COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. We are learning new ways to cope, connect, and move towards a new normal. Through all of these changes and isolation, we have learned just how important it is to have social support from our friends, families, and colleagues. One of the big questions we face as interior designers is โHow will the architecture and design community be impacted by COVID-19?โ
COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. From tragic loss of lives, to lay-offs and business closures, the strain on our emotional, physical and mental health has been incredibly difficult for each of us in our own way. We are learning new ways to cope, connect, and move forward towards a new normal. Through all of these changes and isolation, we have learned just how important it is to have social support from our friends, families, and colleagues. Weโre all missing human bonding.
Our lack of in person contact can trigger what Vivek Murthy, a physician and former surgeon general of the US calls a social recession - โsocial isolation that has a negative impact on physical and mental well-being of people and can even put us at risk for premature death.โ There is reach that links social isolation and loneliness to poor health outcomes such as heart disease, dementia, sleep loss, depression and reduced life expectancy.
To help prevent isolation and a social recession, we need to ensure we are connecting with people outside our home for at least 15 minutes a day. Whether that be a phone call, video chat, or safe distance visit. Itโs also important that we take time to help other people, be more conscious of others, and see the bigger picture of how we fit into our community. There are many beneficial health and wellness outcomes associated with acts of generosity, charity, and community bonding. A main one being increasing our sense of belonging and decreasing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Office Spaces
One of the big questions we face as interior designers is โHow will the architecture and design community be impacted by COVID-19?โ This is a loaded question, but ultimately, I believe this situation has given the design community the opportunity to be creative in new ways.
As we begin to reopen and return to offices at reduced capacity, new protocols are being implemented, as we disinfect our desks, chairs, keyboards, mouses, and phones daily. Our perspective and safety views on the office environment has changed, as we have all adapted a heightened sensitivity to touch and awareness of social distance. Even with new cleaning policies, there are still challenges with our current office layouts, conference room sizes, elevator capacity, distancing capabilities, and privacy that need to be addressed.
This is where designers and architects come in. We design spaces for people, and the way we design these spaces is going to change.โWeโre coming to realize that as designers, architects, and building managers, we have a critical role to play in public health.โ (Rachel Gutter, President of IWBI). We will be designing safer work spaces, with social distancing protocols, re-imagined office layouts, specifying materials that are easily cleanable and implementing maintenance schedules. The effects of COVID-19 will impact the way we think about and design spaces of the future.
Work From Home Life
This world wide social experiment of โCan we all really work remotely?โ has sparked conversations among many companies on if they even need to return to a physical office. Companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook have embraced the option of the remote work lifestyle permanently. This opens the opportunity for people anywhere in the world to work for these companies since you donโt need to be present at a physical office everyday. Businesses have learned to adapt to the work from home life, and some are even working more efficiently than they did in the actual office. Benefits of remote work are:
Less Time Spent Commuting
Improved Employee Retention
More Independent Employees
Reduced Operating Costs
Diverse Candidates
Efficient Use of Technology
Increased Productivity
Positive Environmental Impacts
Better Work Life Balance
Healthier Employees
Less Stressed Employees
Financial Savings
Customized Home Office
Healthier Employees
Improved Creativity
More Time with Family
Many businesses are seeing these great benefits and investing more in their work from home employee support. A company's ability to do this depends on itโs type of work, flexibility, culture, access to technology and the ergonomics of the employees home. Even after the pandemic, work from home choices will be more of an option than ever before. Studies show that employees with the highest level of satisfaction are those who have options of where, how and when they work.
Residential Interior Design and Wellness
With more people working from home, this will change the way we design residences, specifically by creating a designated office space. Things to consider are layout, placement in the home, acoustical privacy, storage, supplies, sustainable components, ergonomics, clean-ability, healthy building materials, and incorporating strategies to avoid burn out. Creating a new lifestyle where home and work life co-exist in the same space. Weโre seeing a major need for these newly developed, creative and healthy spaces in the home.
With a progression towards health and wellness in all facets of our life, and a desire for a cleaner and safer environment due to COVID-19, the Design and Architecture industry is taking great strides to incorporate human health into our environments. WELL Certification is about placing people at the heart of design and enhancing the human health and well being experience. Itโs a certification process for buildings, backed by evidence based health and scientific research with leading physicians, scientists and industry professionals.
Over the last few months, I have seen the positive value that the WELL Certification can bring to me as a designer and to my clients. I am working towards earning my WELL AP certification to be able provide health and wellness education and support in our interior design projects. โA WELL AP denotes expertise in the WELL Building Standard and a commitment to advancing human health and wellness in buildings and communities around the world.โ (wellcertified.com)
The WELL certification provides me with a unique understanding of how the human body is impacted by our indoor and outdoor environments, and how to create a healthier home for my clients. From contaminants in our water and air, lighting consideration and temperature controls, to healthy eating and fitness, WELL Certification covers all this and more to ensure buildings and their occupants health and wellness take priority, increasing the quality and longevity of our lives.
Stay tuned for more on my journey to becoming a WELL Accredited Professional and follow SJI on Instagram for #WellnessWednesday
ASID Illinois' Rising Star, 2019: Sarah Schwuchow
Congratulations to our Owner and Principal Interior Designer, Sarah Schwuchow, who was named as the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapterโs Rising Star for 2019!
Congratulations to our Owner and Principal Interior Designer, Sarah Schwuchow, who was named as the American Society of Interior Designers Illinois Chapterโs Rising Star for 2019!
The ASID Rising Star Award recognizes an emerging professional who has shown dedication to ASID, the interior design industry, and volunteer efforts & contributions to the design community.
Sarah joined ASID as a student member while attending the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago in 2011 and was elected Student Chapter President the following year. Under her energetic leadership, the Student Chapter earned two nationally recognized awards: ASID Student Chapter of the Year, 2012 and ASID Community Service and Fundraising Project of the Year, 2012.
Sarah passed the NCIDQ exam in 2018 and is a Registered Interior Designer in Illinois. Later that year, she founded a committee through ASID Illinois to provide educational programming and study skills to design professionals taking the interior design certification exam (NCIDQ). She has enjoyed serving as a mentor to many design students and other emerging professionals. She also became a CIDQ Ambassador in January of this year.
Sarah will begin serving as the ASID Illinois Director of Communications this October, overseeing all communication functions of the Illinois Chapter. She is dedicated to the mission and values of ASID and firmly believes that design impacts lives and is passionate about educating the general public on the profession of Interior Design.
A Night of Color at Artists Frame Service: Our RNDD Gallery Walk Vignette
We had such an exciting night this past Friday at the River North Design Districtโs 5th Annual Fall Gallery Walk! Our vignette was featured at Artists Frame Service and showcased the ethereal art of gallery 1871โs Cat Tesla. We captured our true colors with aura photographer Revealing Soul, were captivated by color-changing cocktails, and enjoyed fabulous company and great conversation.
We had such an exciting night this past Friday at the River North Design Districtโs 5th Annual Fall Gallery Walk! Our vignette was featured at Artists Frame Service and showcased the ethereal art of gallery 1871โs Cat Tesla. We captured our true colors with aura photographer Revealing Soul, were captivated by color-changing cocktails, and enjoyed fabulous company and great conversation.
The walk featured 33 showrooms exhibiting designer vignettes from Chicagoโs top designers, showcasing living settings highlighting artwork created by some of the brightest stars in the art world today.
Here are some highlights from our opening night on Friday!
Our Color Changing Cocktail - The Chroma!
These were so fun to watch and they were also super delicious!
Meet the artist, Cat Tesla of gallery 1871
โMy work includes both ethereal landscapes and abstract designs. The subjects I choose to paint are organic, either originating from Mother Nature, or inspired by her. I love building layers using painting and drawing, scraping back, then adding more, pooling juicy paint, and pouring glossy translucent glazes over the surface. My artwork provides the viewer with a bold graphic element from a distance, but up close they're rewarded with rich organic details and texture.โ
Cat Tesla is an international artist of 22 years. After a high-stress profession working in human genetics, Cat turned to the natural world, meditation, and yoga. She began studying art in the evenings and went on to obtain a degree in graphic design, followed by studies/residencies with Nicholas Wilton and Steve Aimone. She was โinspired to put nature to canvas - the shapes, colors, and feelings.โ
Cat is a resident artist of gallery 1871 of Chicago Art Source. Her Timeless series pieces featured in our vignette are available for purchase.
Aura Photography by Revealing Soul
Aura Photography is the art of capturing an individualโs aura through photograph in a beautiful array of colors. Revealing Soul was an amazing addition to the evening, taking plenty of photographs and offering free readings!
According to my auraโs colors, I am career oriented and currently experiencing an abundance of growth; I am going through a transformation of personal balance. Iโd call that a great reading!
Missed us last Friday? Thereโs still time to see our vignette!
The Fall Gallery Walk vignettes will be up in each showroom through October 7.
Make sure you stop by Artists Frame Service on Wells street and take a look!
We could not have had such a successful opening night without the help of many hard working individuals! We owe a huge โthank youโ to all our contributors!
What is Interior Design?
Whenever I meet someone new, I always get the question โSo what does an Interior Designer actually do?โ Hereโs my response: โLook around this room, what do you see?
Whenever I meet someone new, I always get the question โSo what does an Interior Designer actually do?โ
Hereโs my response: โLook around this room, what do you see? Someone had to select and layout these ceiling light fixtures, place those EXIT signs and sprinkler heads, select all the furniture and arrange it in a way that a wheel chair could pass by, specify this specific flooring material and make sure it meets slip resistance standards so you wonโt fall, select that drapery fabric and make sure it meets fire code standards so that it doesnโt contribute to flame spread if the room were to catch fire.โ The list goes on and on. Anytime you are in a space, it was someoneโs job to specify and design every little component and make sure it meets applicable building codes, all while understanding design aesthetics on a scientific and artistic level. Thatโs what an Interior Designer does.
An Interior Designer can be your partner, your advocate and can help guide you through the decision making process; we help our clients realize their vision and create an environment that is uniquely theirs. It is important to involve an Interior Designer in the early stages of a project, as they can help you avoid costly mistakes, provide you with valuable resources, and help you find experts to execute the job on your timeline and budget.
The Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) recently released an updated definition of Interior Design:
โInterior design encompasses the analysis, planning, design, documentation, and management of interior non-structural/non-seismic construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building design and construction, fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines for the purpose of obtaining a building permit, as allowed by law. Qualified by means of education, experience, and examination, interior designers have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect consumers and occupants through the design of code-compliant, accessible, and inclusive interior environments that address well-being, while considering the complex physical, mental, and emotional needs of people.โ
While that may be a lot of technical jargon to sort through, the bottom line is that an Interior Designer is an all-encompassing profession when it comes to your space. I earned my NCIDQ certification in 2018 and take every effort to create aesthetic and functional solutions in my clientsโ homes. I take the time to get to know my clients style, lifestyle, and emotional and physical needs. I take care of all the details that come along with an interior design project, making it as easy as possible for my clients: understanding applicable building codes, project managing contractors, sourcing high-quality vendors, and executing the project down to the last detail.
A common misconception is that an Interior Designer is the same as an interior decorator. While decorators have an eye for design and can create beautiful spaces, they lack the qualifications of education, experience, and the NCIDQ examination. Interior Designers combine artistic and technical solutions to create harmonious spaces, while also focusing on health, safety and welfare to enhance quality of life. Check out โWhatโs in Your Paint?โ for a great example of how selecting the right paint can make all the difference in ensuring your families health and wellness.
Pinterest is fantastic way to find a style that you love, but to effectively recreate it by yourself in your own home is much more complicated than it looks. An Interior Designer can help you achieve a pin-worthy home that is sustainable, functional, and beautiful; but most importantly, it will be a reflection of you!
If youโre ready to start working on your dream home, schedule a design consultation today! No project to big or too small, I love helping my clients create a home that is uniquely theirs that they can experience to the fullest!
